It’s your wedding day and you can’t cry if you want to about your makeup. Now’s the time to plan ahead so you won’t have to worry about tears when you walk down the aisle.
“You will want to find a salon far enough in advance so there will be no surprises,” says Sheryl Stuart, makeup director of the David J. Witchell Salon in Newtown, Pa. Bridal consultations comprise 80 percent of Stuart’s business.
“You don’t want to come in at the last minute,” Stuart says. Not only do you want to avoid that awful feeling of not having the right lipstick shade — “you never know when you’ll have an allergic reaction to something,” she says.
After a complementary consultation, Stuart schedules a one-hour makeup session for the day of the wedding. She then charts each product and color used so that application is a breeze on that frantic day and so brides can easily duplicate wedding-day makeup at home.
Stuart, who also has her own line of cosmetics called Insyte, encourages her brides-to-be to purchase the lipstick they’ll be wearing. “That is the one thing that they really need to have on hand and be comfortable with,” she says. A powder for oily skin is another must-have.
“We always use foundation and powder, plus concealer,” says Stuart, “even though we do not like a heavy look. We believe in a very natural and beautiful face.”
Stuart’s clients tend to prefer a classic, elegant look on their wedding day. “It’s more of an angelic look,” she says. However, she acknowledges that if a client wants more dramatic makeup on her wedding day, she will work with them.
“We listen to our clients,” she says. “If they want an exotic look, then we will do that.”
But the first thing Stuart takes into account when brides-to-be come in for a consultation is their skin tone.
“We ask about the color of the gown, the flowers and accessories,” she says, “but the color of the skin will really determine whether we go with warm or cool colors.” Hair and eye color are also taken into account.
“There really isn’t any one particular trend in makeup,” Stuart says. “The sheer, clear look is our preference with shine concentrated on the lips. Less is really best.”
No, this is probably not the time to try out that new shade of iridescent purple eye shadow or teal lipstick or gold glitter nail polish.
But makeup does play an important role on the wedding day. Its effect should not be minimized. After all, Stuart says, “you may be spending 10 hours in front of cameras; you’re not going to the grocery store.”
Another option in planning for wedding-day makeup is to visit cosmetic counters in large department or specialty stores. Many stores feature special appearances by guest makeup artists who are more than willing to consult with you on your makeup.
However, a word to the wise: Plan ahead and make sure you schedule an appointment with the same makeup artist on the day of your wedding if you choose to have your makeup done by a professional.
As Stuart says: “You don’t want surprises on the day of your wedding.”